Effects of glycine–metal compounds onAscaridia galli-infected chickens expressed by a kinetic model

Abstract

AbstractThe biogenic elements zinc, manganese and cobalt are essential for metabolic processes in animals. Compounds of nGly.Me2+A. mH2O (Me2+=Zn2+, Mn2+, Co2+; A=Cl−, SO42−, n=1, 2; m=2, 5), as supplements in the diet, were used separately on different experimental groups of male Hisex chickens to correct the mineral deficiency caused byAscaridia galliinfections. An amelioration of body weight gain, reduction of mortality and restoration of trace element levels were estimated in infected chickens. A mathematical model has been proposed forA. gallipopulation kinetics in chickens, taking into account the stimulating effect of these elements on the nematodes. The model parameters are considered as phenomenological constants of the host–parasite system. An agreement with experimental data is observed using, for the parametersψ,α,μandμs, values equal to those calculated in previously investigatedA. galli–chicken systems. For parameterν(immunological constant) the same value was obtained as in a previous experiment with high infection. This model is likely to be suitable for a range of host–nematode systems, including varying degrees of infection and treatment with different trace elements.